Establishing a Clan in the Eastern Wilderness: A Daily Divination, Cultivating Longevity in a Grotto

After paying three spirit stones, the three of them followed the crowd into the market.

The moment you step inside, a wave of sound hits you.

Along the wide, smooth bluestone streets, shops and pavilions stood side by side, their signs and banners gleaming in the sunlight. There were shops selling pills, magical artifacts, talismans, building materials, restaurants, inns… you name it. The air was thick with the aroma of pills, spiritual materials, and food, along with the various mixed fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from cultivators. The streets were packed with people, mostly Qi Refining cultivators, with the occasional Foundation Establishment cultivator causing those around to instinctively give way.

"It's so lively!"

Chen Wenyuan was dazzled by the sight and couldn't help but sigh softly:

"Clan leader, if our Li family could also own a shop here, even the smallest one, just by selling spirit rice and herbs, we could probably make a fortune."

Upon hearing this, Du Liuniang shook her head and chuckled softly:

"Brother Chen is thinking too simply. The shops in this market, especially those in slightly better locations, have long been snapped up by a few ninth-rank aristocratic families and their affiliated forces. Even the leases for some smaller shops in less desirable locations have been driven up to exorbitant prices, and you need connections and a guarantor to even get one. Want to own one? Unless you perform a great service and are rewarded by the imperial court or an aristocratic family, or... you're strong enough to make the original owner 'voluntarily' give it up."

Li Changsheng listened silently, memorizing the information.

The matter of a shop is indeed far beyond the reach of the Li family at present.

His goal for this trip was clear.

"Let's go to the area where the independent cultivators set up their stalls first," Li Changsheng said.

The area where independent cultivators set up stalls was located in the northeast corner of the market. It was a relatively open square with numbered squares marked on the ground. At this moment, it was already filled with all kinds of stalls. Most of the stall owners were independent cultivators of all kinds, and the things they sold were also very diverse, from materials from demon beasts, low-level spiritual herbs, and broken magic artifacts to ores of unknown use and fragments of ancient books. The prices were relatively cheap, but whether they were genuine or fake and of good quality depended entirely on one's eyesight.

Li Changsheng and his two companions moved through the crowd, their eyes quickly scanning the area.

Soon, Li Changsheng stopped in front of a stall in a corner.

The stall owner was a beautiful woman in her thirties who still retained her charm, and her cultivation level was around the fourth level of Qi Refining.

In front of her were several specially made bamboo cages, each containing seven or eight bright red, spirited Fire Cloud Chickens. Two more were kept separately in a small cage, one of which was the male Fire Cloud Chicken described in the divination as having one leg, a listless appearance, and dull feathers.

"Fellow Daoist, how much are these Fire Cloud Chickens?" Li Changsheng squatted down and asked, pointing to the healthy Fire Cloud Chickens in the cage.

The beautiful woman, seeing a guest arrive, quickly put on a smile:

"Fellow Daoist has a discerning eye! These Fire Cloud Chickens of mine were caught in the 'Sunset Valley' to the east, and they're absolutely genuine! Females are ten low-grade spirit stones each, and males are eight. I can offer a discount if you buy in bulk."

Li Changsheng nodded, his gaze seemingly unintentionally falling on the rooster with the broken leg: "This one... its leg is injured, I'm afraid it won't survive, right? How much?"

The beautiful woman glanced at the sickly rooster, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes: "This one... was born with a broken leg and hasn't eaten or drunk anything, so it's probably useless. If you really want it, you can take it for five spirit stones, consider it a bonus."

Li Changsheng was about to speak and finalize the decision.

"Wait!"

A cold, familiar voice suddenly came from behind, carrying undisguised malice.

Li Changsheng frowned and turned to look.

Cheng Lao Er, accompanied by two Cheng family cultivators, pushed through the crowd and walked over. His gaze toward Li Changsheng was like a poisoned knife.

Enemies meeting are bound to be filled with hatred.

Cheng Lao Er glanced at the Fire Cloud Chicken on the stall, then looked at Li Changsheng, a cold smile creeping onto his lips:

"I, Cheng Jiaquan, will take all of these Flaming Cloud Chickens! Stall owner, name your total price!"

This is blatant hijacking, and even more so, naked provocation.

"Fellow Daoist Cheng, everything is about first come, first served." Li Changsheng stood up, his tone calm, but his eyes had turned cold.

Seeing this, Du Liuniang gently tugged at Li Changsheng's sleeve and whispered:

"Clan Chief Li, there are also stalls selling spirit birds over there, we..."

She didn't want to clash with the Cheng family in the market, where all sorts of people mingled, and the Cheng family was connected to the Yun family; they were likely to be the ones who suffered.

Li Changsheng waved his hand slightly, indicating that it was alright.

He was determined to get this broken-legged Fire Cloud Chicken, not only for the possible roc bloodline, but also for the sake of his attitude—if he backed down here, the Cheng family would only become more demanding.

"First come, first served?" Cheng Lao Er sneered. "In this Qinglan Market, what the Cheng family sets its sights on belongs to the Cheng family! Li Changsheng, don't think you're safe just because you're in the market. We'll settle our score sooner or later!"

Just then.

A patrol of five guards walked towards them.

They were dressed in uniform cyan soft armor, exuding a powerful aura; the lowest level they were at least late-stage Qi Refining. The two leaders had tokens hanging from their waists, each bearing the character "Cloud"!

Cheng Lao Er's eyes lit up, and a fawning, almost obsequious smile instantly spread across his face. He quickly stepped forward and bowed to one of them, Yun Qilang, whose face was cold and whose aura had reached the peak of Qi Refining:

"Seventh Master! You must be tired from your patrol! I am Cheng the Second, and my younger sister is now serving the Second Elder..."

Yun Qilang frowned slightly, clearly not impressed by Cheng Lao Er's attempt to get close to him, but upon hearing the words "Second Elder," he still glanced at him and gave a faint "hmm."

As if greatly encouraged, Cheng Lao Er immediately pointed at Li Changsheng and distorted the truth, saying:

"Seventh Master, you've arrived just in time! This Li family brat is arrogant and unreasonable, trying to force a sale and even attempting violence! He completely disregards the rules of the market and shows utter disrespect for the Yun family and the elders who manage the market!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Qilang's cold gaze instantly locked onto Li Changsheng, and his overwhelming aura of peak Qi Refining swept over him without hesitation, his voice icy:

"Hmph, even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. A mere Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator dares to act so presumptuously here? Apologize to the Cheng family immediately and get out of here, or else..."

The terrifying spiritual pressure seemed to freeze the surrounding air. Du Liuniang and Chen Wenyuan turned pale and struggled to breathe. Li Changsheng also felt a slight heaviness in his body, as if a mountain was pressing down on him, but his spine remained straight and his eyes showed no fear.

In this market town.

It's not just the Yun family that's in charge.

Just as tensions were about to rise...

"Oh, who do we have here trying to intimidate us?"

A clear, melodious female voice, yet tinged with obvious sarcasm, rang out.

Another patrol team arrived nearby at some unknown time. The leader was a young woman dressed in a moon-white outfit, with a heroic and spirited demeanor. She also had the Yun family token hanging from her waist and her cultivation level was at the peak of Qi Refining.

Yun Qilang's face darkened: "Ninth Sister, this is none of your business!"

Yun Jiuniang chuckled lightly, took a few graceful steps, and stood in front of Li Changsheng. The immense pressure was immediately neutralized by another equally powerful aura.